Improvement in hot-air engines



, No. 50.062. PATENTED' 551111.31@1865.

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HOT AIR ENGINE.

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UNifrnDl lSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

'iMPRovEMe-NT' iN HOT-AIR Enemies.`

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 50,062, dated September 19, 1865. l

To all uhom, ft may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN WrLcoX, Jr., of Westerly, in the county of Washington, in

the State of Rhode Island, have invented cer.

tain new and useful Improvements in Hot-Air Engines; andl 1 do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a vertical section on the line S S "in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an end elevation. Fig. 3 is a section showing the burner on a larger scale.

Similar let-ters of reference indicate like parts in all the drawings.

Y My engine. is of that class in which the combustion inthe furnace is conducted under the workin g-pressure, so that the gaseous products of combustion may be made available to iinpel the piston. rlhc air ispumped in by a suitable force-pump against the pressure in the furnace 1t is expanded by heat and is worked oi through the working cylinder, giving out more power in its discharge than was required to force it in.

The extraordinary development of what is known as petroleum-oil, and the several products obtained therefrom, make it practicable t0 produce and work very Asmall engines on this plan.

My engine may be produced on alarge scale, if desired, with the novel parts duplicated to any extent necessary `but it is more especially intended for small powers, such as from a hal-t'- horse power down to a half-m an power, or even much smaller.

My invention consists, rst, in means for urging in the hydrocarbon tluid, so as to neutralize the effect thereon of thc pressure obtaining in the furnace; second, in means for regulating the admission of the hydrocarbon fluid according as the pressure in the furnace tluctuates, so as to admit more when the pressure becomes too low, .ind the reverse; third, in a certain arrangement of the parts for transmitting lient downward from the flame to the hydrocarbon, so as to evaporate more or less, in proportion as more or less is contained in the evuporatingpan; fourth, in means for regalating the escape of the vapor into the fur- 'nace according as the speed of the engine vari/es, so as to allow more to escape when the speed becomes too slow, andthe reverse; fifth, in a certain arrangement of the parts by which the area of the discharge-passages for the vapor is varied immediately at the orifice where quantities with uniform force; sixth, in means for enabling the slight excess of pressure of the vapor in the burner over that in the other admission ofthe hydrocarbon to the evaporator, so as to retard it when the evaporation proceeds too fast; seventh, in certain means for defending the name from the irregular blasts of air forced in bythe pump and of causing the jets of vapor to draw into the defending and heatreceiving globe a proper amount of air to effect the combustion therein.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation by the aid of the drawings and of the letters of reference marked thereon.

A is the working cylinder, a. the workingpiston, a the supply-cylinder or force -pump, and a2 the supply-piston. Dis the main shaft; D and D2, the cranks, which are respectively connected to the working -piston and supplypiston, as represented; and D is the y-wheel. These parts, as also the main framing, the casing, the main connections, and the induction and eduction valves, andthe means of operating them involve no important novelties, and as they are fully shown in the drawings they need not be particularly described.

1 is an elevated reservoir containing petroleum or other hydrocarbon. 2 is a pipe which conducts the petroleum down, and 3 is a pipe which puts the upper part of the vessel 1 in free communication with the interior of the furnace B. It follows that the pressnrein the furnace B is always exactly balanced by Vthe pressure in the upper part of the vessel l, so

pipe 2 into the furnace B under precisely the same conditions as if there were no pressure in the furnace.

a is a stopcock which controls the flow ot' the uid through the pipe 2. nected to the lever of the stopcock 4, and t is a lever vconnected to the link 5 and also to the piston t, which is adapted to slide in the the jets escape, so as to eject large or small parts of the furnace, to aid in regulating the n that the petroleum may How down through the 5 is a link concylinder T and to receive the pressure of thev urnace B on its under surface, while its upper surface is exposed only to the pressure of the ordinary atmosphere. Whenever thepressure in furnace B exceeds the proper .amount it overcomes the gravity of the piston t and its connections, and raising them, partially closes the stop-cock 4. .This checks the descent of the petroleum into the furnace and diminishes the intensity of the fire, and consequently lowers the pressure in the furnace B. Whenever the pressure becomes too low a reverse movement ot" these parts supplies more petroleum and increases the lire and pressure.

9 is a hollow cylinder closed at the top, and provided with holes 10 toallow the escape ot vapor in nearly horizontal jets, as indicated.

11 is a movable stop or piston having its upper l'ace inclined, and having ample vprovis-4 ion lfor the rise of the vapor through its -interior.

12 is a brnad'vessel or pan of cast-ironfor other suitable material, in which the petroleum or other volatile hydrocarbon fluid stored in the reservoir lis spread out and exposed to be evaporated.

13 represents spurs or legs descending from the heated burner 9 into the petroleum in the pan 12, in order 'the better to conduct heat downward thereto. n

14 is hollow globe or shellof castiron, which is intensely heated bythe jets of flame from the holes 10, 'and which conducts heat downward, as will be obvious. Provision is made by holes 20 for the induction of air at the base ot' the globe 14, and a capacious passage is provided for the escape of the hot gases at the top of this globe, to be diffused in the upper part of the furnace B.

15 is a link connecting the movable piece or piston 11 with an arm or bent portion ot' the slight rock-shaft 16. y

17 is a rod, which connects another arm on this rock shaft 16 with an ordinary ily ball governor, R. Vhen the engine runs too fast, so that the ily-balls in the governor R rise too high, they move the rod 17, andby rocking the rock-shaft 16 lift the connection 15 and the piston 11 and partially close the apertures 10, through which the jets of vapor are. discharged. This reduces the intensity of the heat, and thus moderates the speed of the enine. g v1t is desirable that thevapor issuing through the jets 10 shall always escape withabout the same velocity, Whether a large or small quantit'y is allowed to issue in a given time.l The fact that the passage from the evaporating-pan 12 into the upper part of the cylinder 9 is always entirely free, and that the movable stop or piston 1l controls the escape ot' the vapor immediately at the discharge-openings l0, insures this result. The discharge-openings 10 are .practically enlarged and diminished with each uctuation in the speed ot' the engine, while the pressure of the vapor at the openings is not greatly varied. Consequently the vapor `issues with nearly the same velocity, but in currents which vary in size or number.

My globe 14 may be readily removed and a new one suppliedif itbecomes cracked, warped, or otherwise injuriously affected by long exposure to intense heat; To effect this it is only necessary to slightly jar the part with a hamn mer and lift it ott' and press down a new one. The surface in contact between the base. of the globe 14 and the casting il below is suicient to albrd a very rapid conduction of the heat downward, andthe points or spurs 13 andthe exterior walls ot' the casting 9conduct the heat downward to the evaporating-pan 12 with such freedom as to insure the rapid production ot' the vapor.

The operation of my invention will be understood with but few additional words. The expansion ofthe air pumped in bythe com pressing-piston c2 impels the worlringpiston c and gives power to the engine, depending on the pressure of the air and other gases in the furnace B, which must be considerably above that ofthe external atmosphere. Every revolution of the shaft I) delivers during the latter portion ofthe descent ot' a2 a supply ot' compressedr air to the furnace by driving it up through the valve `Gr and thence down through the pipe lH into the'furnace B. It is heated in the furnace by the combustion of the vapor of the petroleum or other volatile fluid deposited in the elevated reservoir l. The' pressure` in the chamber or space just above the. valve G is the same as in the furnace 13, and it is communicated through the pipe 3 to the top of the reservoir 1. The petroleum therefore descends by gravity in the pipe 2 and exerts a pressure to llow past the cock 4 proportional to the height or head. 1t' the apertures 10 for the jets ot' vapor be very much contracted, the pressure of the vapor in the burner 9 and in the evaporatingpan 12 and its connections increases and retards the flow ofthe petroleum down through the cock 4, and if it be much opened and the pressure lessened-thatis, ifthe piston 11 be much lowered, so as to uncover more of the openings 10-th`e pressure of the vapor decreases and the ow downward through 4 is promoted, so as to supply more petroleum in the pan 12 and raise the pressure again. The level of the volatile liuid in the evaporator 12 thus tends to adjust itself and supply the proper amount ot' vapor under all openings or degrees of opening of the apertures 10; but I introduce a regulation (independent of or additional to the regulation of the openings 10, which will be detailed directly) by causing the coclr to ope'n and close vmore or less, according, not to the pressure vof the vapor within the burner 9, but to the pressure obtaining throughout the entire furnace B and its connections. Whenever the engine,

through excess ofheat in the furnace B or yother cause, generates .too great a workinrpressure it is felt under the piston t, and it riss alittle and partially closes the cock 4., so' as to choke the fall of the petroleum; or, if the pressure in the furnace becomes too little, the cock 4 opens wide, so as to promote the descent ot'a greater quantity of the tluid,and in creases the lire.

The area of the openings 10, from which the jets issue, is made to depend on the speed of the engine. When the engine starts to turn too rapidly the balls of the regulator R in rising `raise the piston 11, and thus cover the whole or a portion of one of the orifices l0 the one which is on the side of the burner 9, where the piston 11 is thickest, (the left side in Figs. 1 and 3.) If the speed still increases afterone hole is thus stopped, others will begin to close by the further rising of the piston H, and the vapor-jets being 'thus reduced, the heat in the furnace is lessened and the engine losesv power until the speed is properly reduced. A too slow speed induces a reverse of all these changes and the jets of vapor increase in size and number. A new jet, on -being let on by the descent ot' the piston 11, is instantly ignited by the heat ot' the globe 14 and ot' the gases circulating therein in a state of ignition from the other jets, which have remained all the time open. Under all circumstances vapor is allowed to escape, and it docs so under the full pressure obtaining in the evaporator 12 and its connections, and consequently throws itself with full force across and into the cur@ rents of fresh air and against the interior of the castiron globe 14.

The fresh air forced in by the action of the piston a? is not all thrown intov the globe 14. On the contrary, the jets from the holes 10 draw in by their own action a small part--just the quantity which is required-'of the fresh air. The rest ofthe fresh air goes up outside of the globe 14 -andmerely miugles with and dilutes the flame. The air to mingle with the gases,

Y or rather vapor in the globe, is drawn in through the holes 2t), in the base of the globe, by an action similar to that by which the blast-pipe in locomotives draws air from the tubes and hurries it up the chimney. The vapor from the openings 10 is mingled with the globe 14 with just sufficient air to make the combustion com plete, or only a little in excess of that quantity, and however violent may be the current of dense air driven in at certain periods through the pipe H, and however directly it may impinge ou the globe 14, it cannot; blow out or seriously disturb the dame therein.

It is evident that in lieu of the single pistonvalve 11 a number ot' openings might be controlled by cocks, part of which might be closed entirely and part left wide open, and thus practically reduce the area of. the escape-openin gs. This would realize to some extent the advantages of my invention; but I prefer the construction represented. The globe or casting 14 surrounding the tlame prevents it from being disturbed by the violent currents ot air discharged at intervals into the furnace, and also prevents the access of an` undue amount of air to the dame, and preserves a very high temperature at the point of combustion.

Some of the advantages due to certain features of my invention maybe separately enumerated, as follows:

First, by reason of the fact that the pipe 3 connects the furnace B br the space above the delivery-valve, which space is in connection with the furnace, tothe upper end of thereservoir 1, I am able to insure the same pressure on the surface ot' the petroleum as obtains in the furnace, however the working-pressure may vary.

4 is closed by means o t' the devices represented in proportion as the pressureinthe furnace B, and consequently in the reservoir l, increases, 'I obtain (other things being equal) a reduced descent of petroleum into the pan 12 (thereby tending to reduce the production of vapor) in proportion as the working-pressure in the engine increases, and regulate the temperature in the furnace as the exigencias demand.

Third. By reason of the fact that my heatconductin g spurs 13, vapor-burner 9, and evap'- orating-pan 12 are arranged as shown, I am better ahle to produce vapor in proportion as the level of the petroleum rises, and vice versa.

Fourth, by reasoneof the fact that the speedregulator R checks the escape of vapor into the furnace as the speed becomes too great, 1 am able to keep the motion nearly uniform and to insure under all ordinary circumstances a quantity of flame just proportioned' to the demands, even without the aid ofthe petroleumcock 4.

Fifth, by reason of the factthat lthe vapor is shut oit' by reducing the elfective area of the openings 10,1 am able to obtain the full velocity due to the pressure of the vapor, whether the several jets discharge a greater or less quantity, vand thus obtain perfect combustion and throwthe heat upon the globe 14, and induct the air through the holes 20 iu the same manner under all conditions.

Sixth, by reason of the fact that my adjustthat the petroleum or other hydrocarbon is gently urged into the evaporator 12 from the` elevated reservoir 1 by gravity, as represented, I am able to insurethat when the consumption of vapor is decreased, so as to increase the pressure in the burner 9, its pressure, acting' backward through the pipe 2,shall obstruct the descent of the petroleum,.causing it tordescend through the opening of cock 4, be the same great or small, with rapidity and consequently to stand lower in the paul?, thereby causing a lesser evaporation and tending' to soon lower the pressure in the burner 9, and an increase of consumption of the vapor will have an opposite effect on the supply ot' petroleum.

Seventh, by reason ofthe fact that my jets 10 induct ajust sutiicient quantity of fresh air through the holes Ztl-and ei'ect complete com bastion within the metallic protection 14, 1 am Second, by reason of thc fact that the cock y able device l1 varies the dow of the vapor and able to avoid the disturbing iniuence ot the .intermittent blasts through the pipe H and burn the fuel under the best eonditions,'and at the same time to receive and conduct-dowu-- ward the heat ofthe tiame to evaporate the hydrocarbon very eii'ect vel y,

Having now. fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

l. The pipe 3, connecting the interior ofthe furnace B' with the upper portion of the resera'oir 1, for the purposes herein. set forth.

2. lhe loaded piston t, in combination with thecock 4, adapted to regulate the area of the` orifice in the cock 4, through which the petroleum ows from the reservoir I to the furnace B, according to the fiuctuations of pressure obtaining inthe furnace B, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. .The arrangement of the heat-condncting spurs 13, burner 9, and evaporator 12, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

4. Connecting and combining the iiy-ball or equivalent speed-governor R withv the piston 11, or its equivalent, for controlling the issue of hydrocarbon vapor int-o the furnace of an air-engine, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified. v

5'. In combination with an air-en gine adapted for the use of hydrocarbon vapor in the manner substantially as specified, thcjet-holes l() and one or more pistons or stops 1,1., arranged immediately adjacent thereto, so as to jet with the full velocity, even when partly closed, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.-

6.( The employment, in an air-en gine, of an ele.'

hand in the presence of two Snbscrbingwitnesses. l l

STEPHEN WILGOX, JR.

Witnesses: t i

THOMAS D. S'rE'rsoN, D. W. STETSON. 

